Figured spinning toy



Jan. 11, 1949. I F. HARRIS- 2,458,851

FIGURED SPINNING TOY Filed Sept 18, 1946 Patented Jan. 11, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,458,851 FIGURED SPINNING TOY Frank Harris, Orlando, Fla.

Application September 18,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to toys, and particularly to spinning toys.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a toy which may be rotated by operating a cord or flexible member wound on the main stem of the toy, and thereby causing arms supporting objects at the free ends thereof, to swing outwardly in an amusing and attractive manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spinning toy of this character having a balancing wheel or disk mounted thereon, to maintain the toy in a substantially upright position, during rotation thereof.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a toy constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the main stem or post of the toy is indicated by the reference character 5, the lower end thereof being pointed as at 6 to provide an exceptionally fine spinning point for the device.

Secured to the main stem or pst'5 at a point adjacent to the pointed end 6 thereof, is a balancing wheel I, which may be constructed of substantially heavy material to properly balance the main stem or post, as it is rotated.

Mounted pivotally at the upper end of the main stem or post 5, is the cross-arm 8 to which the rods 9 are rotatably and slidably connected. At the lower ends of the rods 9 are objects indicated at H], the objects being preferably constructed to simulate mechanical men having pivoted leg sections H adapted to bend when the lower ends or feet of the leg sections, touch the surface on which the device is rotating. The cross arm is of greater length than the diameter of the wheel, to space the rods and objects beyond the wheel periphery, and the lower ends of 1946, Serial No. 697,610

2 the objects are in a lower plane than the plane of the wheel.

Slidably mounted on the main stem or post 5, is the reciprocating operating arm l2 to which the ends of the cord l3, are connected, the intermediate portions of the cord being wound around the main stem or post 5, as clearly shown by Fig. 1 of the drawing.

In operating the device, the cord I3 is wound on the main stem or post 5 in a manner as shown by Fig. 1, and the cross-arm 8 is held in one hand, while the operating arm [2 is held in the a other hand. The operating arm i2 is now pulled,

causing the cord I3 to unwind and resulting in a spinning action being imparted to the main stem or post 5. The main stem or post 5 is now positioned on a supporting surface where it rotates, the balancing wheel I tending to maintain the main stem or post in a position against toppling over.

It may be that during the rotation of the main stem or post 5, the main stem or post will lean which will cause the feet of the pivoted leg sec-- tions H, to contact the surface on which the toy is rotating, causing the legs of the objects to pivot and swing upwardly, in an amusing manner. The objects, rather than the wheel, will always touch the supporting surface when the toy leans. This prevents the toy from being stopped as rapidly as would be the case if the wheel periphery were to frictionally engage the supporting surface. The objects merely yield at their joints and tend to be bounced upwardly, with the slida ble mounting of the rod taking the slight upward thrust from the objects, and transmitting a slight radial pressure inwardly to the cross-arm,- thus to assist in restoring its equilibrium.

In view of the foregoing it is thought that the operation of the device will be clear, and that further description is unnecessary.

What is claimed is:

A spinning toy comprising a main stem having a supporting-surface-engaging point at its lower end, a cross-arm pivotally connected at its center point to the upper end of the stem, there being openings formed in the ends of the crossarm, rods depending from the cross-arm and having their upper ends slidable and rotatable in the openings, jointed objects mounted at the lower ends of the rods and adapted to contact the surface on which the toy rotates, a balance wheel mounted on the lower portion of the main stem and rotatable with the main stem, said cross-arm being of greater length than the diameter of the balance wheel whereby to space the rods and objects from the periphery of the wheel, the lower ends of said objects being in a plane lower than the plane of the wheel, and

means for imparting spinning motion to the 10 main stem.

FRANK HARRIS.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,335,571 Flippo Mar. 30, 1920 1,713,430 Furman May 14, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 31,478 Germany Oct. 16, 1884 

